Hit a Home Run Like a Pro at the Ikebukuro Batting Centre!

The Japanese may be workaholics but they also like to get out and about and have some fun. Evidence of this can be found throughout Tokyo where you will find countless game centres to enjoy arcade games and sports for nominal fees. One such place is the Ikebukuro Batting Centre which is about a five minute walk from Ikebukuro station, right next to Sunshine City.

It is located on the roof-top of a seven-story building, there are around seven batting cages as well as one pitching cage, ping-pong tables, a basketball shooting game and a variety of other arcade games.

For each variation of amusement, there is a coin slot to pop in a couple of 100 yen and play away. Machines inside will change 1000, 5000 or 10,000 yen notes or if you’re unsure of anything ask for help at the information desk.

The batting cages range in speeds from 90km/h to 130km/h which can’t be adjusted, so be sure to check the speed which is noted on a sign outside the door to each cage. We made the mistake of going straight to the 130km/h pitcher which left us in a daze as the balls fired out of the opposite wall in a blur.

Like the majority of batting cages, the pitcher is complete with a video hologram projected on the wall to add to the experience. Each cage comes complete with helmet and a choice of a small or large bat and costs 300 yen for 20 balls.

Get ready to give it your best shot

The balls will start firing soon after you’ve inserted the money so make sure you’re ready to try your best to hit a home run. They will fire automatically every five seconds or so up until the last pitch, you’ll know it’s over when the balls stop firing.

If you’re a beginner, we’d recommend starting at 90km/h and working your way up, definitely don’t go straight to the 130km/h cage like we did. The place closes at 11pm so it’s the perfect after work activity to release any stress, otherwise it’s a good way to spend a leisurely hour or two on the weekend or in the holidays.

SIMILAR ARTICLES

Rather than the traditional backdrop of a painted Mount Fuji, a large LED screen fills the back wall of Hisamatsuyu with abstract shapes made up of white lights and you know this is a different kind of sento. Whilst Fuji will always be a pleasant backdrop for relaxation, the more traditional sento across Tokyo tend…

Terme Ogawa is a unique natural hot spring in the western suburbs of Tokyo that is well worth a visit, due to its blend between Roman baths and Japanese onsen. The complex is located in Kodaira City, just around the corner from Ogawa station on the Seibu-Kokubunji and Seibu-Haijima lines, whilst Shin-Kodaira station on the…

Myoujin no Yu, located in Oyata in East Tokyo, has a real traditional feel with wood omnipresent throughout the building. So if you are looking for a place in the city where you can have some rest and relaxation, this onsen might be perfect for you. myoujin-no-yu.com/ myoujin-no-yu.com/ Myoujin no Yu has two large wooden…

Located in Central Tokyo, just fifteen minutes from Shinjuku, Shimizuyu offers an onsen experience at a fraction of the usual price. Here, baths use kuroyu (black water) tapped from natural sources below the city. This inky coloured water is common across Tokyo’s bath houses but at Shimizuyu bathers also have the chance to dip into…

*We are making every effort to prevent copyright infringement on our website, but please contact us through our email address below in case you would like to report a violation regarding our articles or images.